How Smoking Affects Dental Implants

Smoking and tobacco use have been linked to several dental health issues. Smokers are more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease. They are more likely to need root canals and are more likely to suffer complications after dental treatments, such as root canals and dental extractions. They are also more likely to suffer from oral cancer than non-smokers. A recent study has found that smokers may be facing even more dental problems as a result of tobacco use.

This study, which was performed at Brazil’s Guarulhos University, found that smoking compromised healing after dental implant surgery. When an implant is placed, the bone around it begins to heal. This healing process is complex and can be affected by cigarette smoking, which exposes the smoker to about four thousand toxins. These toxins inhibit the development of the cell deposition required to build new bone tissue.

Researchers found that those who had never smoked had greater bone density and bone-to-implant surface two months after they had dental implants placed. The smokers in the study had significantly lower bone-to-implant surface and bone density, indicating compromised healing.

If you have lost a tooth and are a candidate for implants, quitting smoking can help improve your outcome. You may need to quit for a few weeks before the implant surgery and throughout the healing stage so that your body can build new bone tissue free of smoking-related toxins. Call us to learn more about implants or to schedule an appointment with our team.